2008 Range Rover Sport

Retail Price as tested: $61,950.00

The interior is designed for comfort especially for the driver. All the controls are within easy reach and I like having the NAV separate from the radio. I just wish it had HD and iPod connections. The bluetooth works well and the sound system is excellent.

The Range Rover Sport is one of the nicest luxury SUV’s you will drive. But don’t let all the luxurious amenities get in the way of what the Sport can actually do off road. Range Rover is well known for building a heavy duty off road vehicle that was made for going on Safari in places like Africa. What Range River starting building 60 years ago still exists today but with a lot more refinements. What does all this mean to you - it means that you can buy a Range Rover Sport with all the options but still take it off road and enjoy the outdoors. That’s really what owning a SUV is all about. I have owned and work on Land Rovers and their off road abilities is second to none. Not only is the Sport a capable off road vehicle but is a highly refined on road vehicle. The luxury it offers is what you love about the Sport. It will get you anywhere you want to go with style. This is an SUV you will enjoy driving. It has a great feel of the road and does not feel as heavy as it actually is. This is due to the aluminium body atop a very heavy frame and running gear. You will read other reviews that don’t like the Sport as well as I do - I guess you will have to test drive one for yourself to see who’s opinion is correct.

For a list of all the available options click here.

4.4-litre 3007-hp 8-Cylinder Engine

The 4.4 Litre Engine comes from the “Ford” side of the fence. It features dual overhead camshafts with 4 valves per cylinder. It has a compression of 10.75:1 so you will want to use premium gas. The Sport has an option for a Supercharged 4.2 that boasts 390 hp.

Engine and Transmission

The 4.4 engine in the Sport seems slightly underpowered but nothing that would keep me from buying it. It actually runs very well for a small engine in a heavy SUV. Its power band is smooth and the transmission works in unison with  the engine. The supercharged version adds 90 hp even though its only a 4.2 liter. The supercharged version adds about 8k to the price if you factor in the standard features that the Supercharged version comes with. Honestly I could live with the non-supercharged version unless I was going to tow a large trailer with the Sport.

Interior

John Rush - Host

Gearhead Radio & Drive Radio

For a audio version of my review - please visit www.gearheadradio.com.

For more details on other features and options on the Range Rover Sport click here.

6-speed Automatic Transmission & Dual Range Transfer Case

The Sport comes with a 6-speed automatic transmission that has a normal, manual and sport shift mode. The transmission shifts according to what mode you have it in. It also have a hill hold feature when driving off road in low range. It also has a dual range transfer case that is mostly non-existent on luxury SUV’s. This is what gives the Sport its great off road capability.

The interior is very luxurious. The leather seating is very comfortable and it has plenty of storage. The center console is also an electric powered cooler to keep your picnic lunch cool.

The Range Rover Sport is a very enjoyable vehicle to drive. It handles well and looks good at the same time. The rear seats have plenty of room for 2 adults or 3 children. The cargo area is also very large and give you ample room for all your gear. The suspension is adjustable for different driving conditions as well as the transfer case. There are modes for snow, sand, off roading and rock crawling. There is an optional electronic locking rear differential that makes the capabilities of the Sport even better.

The back seats have plenty of room and they can be folded down to add more cargo space. The rear cargo area is very large giving you plenty of room for 4 adults along with their gear. The rear seats also have audio input and output so the rear passengers can listen to their own music and of course there is an optional rear entertainment system.